Drug needles found in abandoned cars in Lawkholme

TEENAGERS were horrified to find needles in abandoned cars in a Lawkholme car park.

Dozens of needles were strewn in the three vehicles parked next to a well-used children’s centre.

The youngsters’ adult leader, from youth project JAMES, said he was shocked at the size of the four boys’ find.

He believes the addicts had been using the vehicles as private drug dens out of sight of residents and police.

The owner of the car park, in Grange Street, has pledged to remove the cars before the end of this week.

Local councillors told the Keighley News that discarded needles endangered both families using the adjacent Keighley Association Women Children’s Centre and youngsters going to prayers at the nearby Jamia mosque.

And Naz Kazmi, the manager of the centre, called for more police patrols to provide a visible deterrent to addicts and dealers.

She said that in the past needles had been found in the centre’s own car park, and addicts were regularly seen in alleyways and backstreets.

She said: “I’m frightened. Our young people have seen junkies around, but when we come out they run off.

“They scatter needles around Lawkholme. It’s attractive for them because it’s secluded and there aren’t many people passing by.”

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The needles were discovered last week by four boys in their mid-teens from JAMES while on a day trip researching the effects of anti-social behaviour.

Project leader Steve Parnham said that on their tour of Keighley grot spots the boys had expected to find only fly tipping, graffiti and dog dirt.

He said: “One of the lads looked inside a car and said ‘look at this!’. There were dozens of needles. There were papers, lots of spliffs.

“This is quite a shocking thing to come across, we weren’t expected to find anything on this scale.

“These cars appear to be purposely therefore the usage of drugs. One window was smashed and tyres were flat.”

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Comments (1)

"Sergeant Julie Gray, from the Keighley neighbourhood police team, said drug use would not be tolerated in Keighley." I'm sure that with the number of police in Keighley that both dealers and users will move elsewhere. I don't think! Cut the number of officers, this is the direct result.

"Sergeant Julie Gray, from the Keighley neighbourhood police team, said drug use would not be tolerated in Keighley."
I'm sure that with the number of police in Keighley that both dealers and users will move elsewhere. I don't think!
Cut the number of officers, this is the direct result.GAMEKEEPER1809

"Sergeant Julie Gray, from the Keighley neighbourhood police team, said drug use would not be tolerated in Keighley." I'm sure that with the number of police in Keighley that both dealers and users will move elsewhere. I don't think! Cut the number of officers, this is the direct result.

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